Photo: Darren Obbard / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Chanting Goshawk
Melierax poliopterus
Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 630 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Melierax
- Species poliopterus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 630 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to Tanzania.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 630 g, with a wing length of about 30.6 cm and a tail of around 20.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Chanting Goshawk?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is a large bird that weighs around 630 g.
Where does the Eastern Chanting Goshawk live?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Eastern Chanting Goshawk belong to?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Eastern Chanting Goshawk eat?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Eastern Chanting Goshawk migrate?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern Chanting Goshawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eastern Chanting Goshawk make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Chanting Goshawk — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Chanting Goshawk's range?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.